I don't see how sega would think HOTD could crack the top 10, out of any "hardcore/mainstream" title coming to the platform, madworld I believe has the best opportunity to crack the top 10 given the amount of buzz post and pre release, even then though I doubt it will be able to outsell most of whats in the top 10 right now.
there's too many new wii owners coming on board every month, they all pick up the most well known software (mario kart/wii play/guitar hero/etc). if they are new to video games and casual there's one or two specific reasons as to why they are picking up the system (wiifit etc)
The success stories (of more "gamers" games) so far here in the U.S. have been titles moving nice amounts of software over extended periods. whereas games like HOTD:O would be front loaded on ps3/xbox, chances are the game will form some type of legs (esp as sega lowers the price to mass market friendly) and end up at a successful LTD on the sku. This has been the sweet spot on wii, how sega and other publishers couldn't see it by now would seem somewhat odd.
If you look at segas recent releases they seem to get the system pretty well. they release games like sonic, HOTD, samba/etc. rack in high dollar sales from the devoted/avid wii owners, lower the price to attract more of the mass market gamer, eventually ending its life in the wii bargain bin, where casuals seem to be(20-30$) until a possible squeal/copy of the game hits the system, to repeat. Eventually you have enough titles on the market doing this that you have to be moving a good amount of software every month.
if you look at a company like majesco, they release games that clone the popular titles on wii (wiifit etc) along with games that have simple arcade type game play (cooking mama) that could sell to casual gamers since its non-threatening and more avid gamers who may appreciate the presentation/quirkiness. majesco has really worked a great opportunity, the fit product has sold over 500k+, mama sold over 2m copies last year without (to my knowledge) any or little appearance in the DS top 10?.
the nintendo clones provide easy money, given; youre knocking off the top product and providing yourself as the second choice to the consumer (IE if the nintendo product is out of stock; retailers constantly push wii fit/mario kart clones). you put out little money, you don't need an exceptional product or marketing but your selling an idea that's already been sold by nintendo and cashing in. your finally seeing other companies do this; ea, with a wiifit clone, kart racing/etc. (though this has been something publishers have understood for awhile on ds, it seems some still dont get the idea on wii?)
on the other side, you release a healthy amount of wii software aimed at mass market gamers on wii (software that could also get attention from the "hardcore" who have flocked to their HD units). games that have a fair enough budget to produce a product that's visually appealing and that can be sold as a quality title for the system, in turn which will garner attention from the consumers your targeting... if you have enough of this product spaced out and rotating on the system, you'll end up moving a substantial amount of software COMBINED and at the end of the games life end up producing enough sales to justify the endeavor.
you cant be a publisher on wii just releasing a few big budget; well known franchise titles. you wont get the big launch numbers = producing a profit from a game with a large budget when youre talking a 5+ month lifespan at retail is too difficult to operate. sega's plan of putting sonic: BK/HOTD/madworld and conduit on the platform within a 5 month window is a good move. none of them (albeit one, maybe) will break the charts but having 4 strong wii showings at retail together should prove successful, collectively on the short term and over the long term for the individual sku's.
its' much healthier for the home console industry (if adapted too), compared to a platform where you cater to just avid gamers who are; fussy (IE the bitching about madworld/hotds polishing isn't a sale breaking issue to mass market gamers), will read reviews, follow production, you spend millions trying to fulfill what the faithful wants and you either get the dollar or you don't, if you don't... you bomb at launch and lose a ton of money.
there's too many new wii owners coming on board every month, they all pick up the most well known software (mario kart/wii play/guitar hero/etc). if they are new to video games and casual there's one or two specific reasons as to why they are picking up the system (wiifit etc)
The success stories (of more "gamers" games) so far here in the U.S. have been titles moving nice amounts of software over extended periods. whereas games like HOTD:O would be front loaded on ps3/xbox, chances are the game will form some type of legs (esp as sega lowers the price to mass market friendly) and end up at a successful LTD on the sku. This has been the sweet spot on wii, how sega and other publishers couldn't see it by now would seem somewhat odd.
If you look at segas recent releases they seem to get the system pretty well. they release games like sonic, HOTD, samba/etc. rack in high dollar sales from the devoted/avid wii owners, lower the price to attract more of the mass market gamer, eventually ending its life in the wii bargain bin, where casuals seem to be(20-30$) until a possible squeal/copy of the game hits the system, to repeat. Eventually you have enough titles on the market doing this that you have to be moving a good amount of software every month.
if you look at a company like majesco, they release games that clone the popular titles on wii (wiifit etc) along with games that have simple arcade type game play (cooking mama) that could sell to casual gamers since its non-threatening and more avid gamers who may appreciate the presentation/quirkiness. majesco has really worked a great opportunity, the fit product has sold over 500k+, mama sold over 2m copies last year without (to my knowledge) any or little appearance in the DS top 10?.
the nintendo clones provide easy money, given; youre knocking off the top product and providing yourself as the second choice to the consumer (IE if the nintendo product is out of stock; retailers constantly push wii fit/mario kart clones). you put out little money, you don't need an exceptional product or marketing but your selling an idea that's already been sold by nintendo and cashing in. your finally seeing other companies do this; ea, with a wiifit clone, kart racing/etc. (though this has been something publishers have understood for awhile on ds, it seems some still dont get the idea on wii?)
on the other side, you release a healthy amount of wii software aimed at mass market gamers on wii (software that could also get attention from the "hardcore" who have flocked to their HD units). games that have a fair enough budget to produce a product that's visually appealing and that can be sold as a quality title for the system, in turn which will garner attention from the consumers your targeting... if you have enough of this product spaced out and rotating on the system, you'll end up moving a substantial amount of software COMBINED and at the end of the games life end up producing enough sales to justify the endeavor.
you cant be a publisher on wii just releasing a few big budget; well known franchise titles. you wont get the big launch numbers = producing a profit from a game with a large budget when youre talking a 5+ month lifespan at retail is too difficult to operate. sega's plan of putting sonic: BK/HOTD/madworld and conduit on the platform within a 5 month window is a good move. none of them (albeit one, maybe) will break the charts but having 4 strong wii showings at retail together should prove successful, collectively on the short term and over the long term for the individual sku's.
its' much healthier for the home console industry (if adapted too), compared to a platform where you cater to just avid gamers who are; fussy (IE the bitching about madworld/hotds polishing isn't a sale breaking issue to mass market gamers), will read reviews, follow production, you spend millions trying to fulfill what the faithful wants and you either get the dollar or you don't, if you don't... you bomb at launch and lose a ton of money.
i wanted to rant, sorry :x
